Wolverhampton Wanderers have a recent history of making intelligent transfer moves and could now be set to land another talented star, according to Fabrizio Romano.

Wolverhampton Wanderers looking upwards under Vitor Pereira

The Old Gold are back in pre-season action and will take encouragement despite their 2-1 defeat to CD Santa Clara in pre-season after forgotten man Sasa Kalajdzic scored in his first appearance for 18 months.

Despite enduring a tough time with injuries, the Austria international is back up and running and spoke to reporters post-match, stating: “It was a really good feeling [to play] after a long, long time. Just kicking the ball with my mates in an unofficial but, for me, more official game and I’m just happy everything went well.

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“I gained more minutes, playing with the others to get to now them again more and more on the pitch and it was a really good next step.”

With Jorgen Strand Larsen and Fer Lopez in the door at Molineux, Wolves are leading the race to sign Almeria full-back Marc Pubill as Vitor Pereira looks to add strength at right-back.

Real Betis winger Pablo Garcia is also on Wolves’ radar. However, they face stiff competition from Real Madrid for his signature, which may complicate the likelihood of a deal being done.

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Reinforcing out wide is a central priority for the Old Gold to ensure they have enough chance creators present within their tactical framework, so it will come as no surprise to hear that they are now closing on a winger.

Romano: Jhon Arias set for Wolverhampton Wanderers medical

Taking to social media platform X, world-renowned transfer reporter Romano has confirmed that Fluminense winger Jhon Arias is set for a medical ahead of a proposed move to Wolves that will cost around £18.2 million.

The Club World Cup semi-finalists will retain a 10% sell-on clause in the deal, and it now only appears to be a matter of time before he will be announced at Molineux.

With his move now seemingly nothing more than a formality, the 27-year-old has registered a goal and four assists from 11 appearances this campaign in the Brazilian top-flight.

In that time, Arias has also created 28 chances and delivered 19 successful crosses, making him a prime candidate to strengthen Pereira’s attacking output on either flank.

South American players have a long history of thriving at Molineux, and the Colombia international will hope he can become the next quality recruit to shine in the West Midlands.

Manchester United will enter the 2025/26 campaign with new wide forwards. In Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, there’s fresh cause for optimism.

So many things went wrong for Erik ten Hag and then Ruben Amorim last term, and perhaps we’ve dissected the woes of last year enough. United need to look forward, and Amorim knows that with such Premier League-proven stars strengthening his frontline, he might genuinely have the tools to push for a place at the top end of the table.

Last season was not good enough, and so the summer clearout is underway, and the new signings so far look to be on the money.

Cunha has been a menace for Wolverhampton Wanderers over the past several years, with a genuine wow factor to complement his hunger for goals and assists.

Brentford’s Mbeumo might not be so skilful, but who can argue against the 25-year-old’s goalscoring ability? Pen has not yet been put to paper, but it looks like the Red Devils have hit the jackpot with this one.

Why Man United are signing Bryan Mbeumo

First and foremost, Mbeumo fits the bill from a tactical standpoint. He’s powerful, precise and prolific. The right-sided forward is better than both Antony and Jadon Sancho, more accomplished in the English game.

And it’s that last point which tells all. Gone are the days of scattergun spending on those showing promise overseas. Hello, new regime, with tried and tested players like those discussed at the forefront.

Last season, Mbeumo forged an elite partnership with Yoane Wissa, one that forged 40 goals and 14 assists. They played with such gusto and coherence that they will feature heavily in wistful conversations in years to come. But it was truly a thing to behold, with former Bees boss Thomas Frank even calling his Cameroonian forward “unplayable” at times.

Mbeumo will be tasked with establishing new relationships at Old Trafford, and he might just at that, with INEOS now turning their attention to a centre-forward.

Man United in talks for new striker

Manchester United need to sign an upgrade on Rasmus Hojlund. The 22-year-old lost his way last year, scoring only four goals in the Premier League and routinely failing to deliver.

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Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

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Therefore, United have set their sights on RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko, with none other than Fabrizio Romano confirming a deal for the Slovenian striker has been discussed internally.

Liam Delap and Viktor Gyokeres are among the names targeted already this summer, but the former has signed for Chelsea, while Amorim’s former protege is in the process of joining Arsenal.

Reporter Ben Jacobs has corroborated Romano’s report, iterating United’s priority of signing a striker and noting that Sesko, who is 22, is back on the radar, having been earmarked one year ago. Leipzig are thought to be seeking something in the region of £78m.

Why Man United want Benjamin Sesko

While there’s a new emphasis on signing domestically, United aren’t going to turn a blind eye to those out on the continent who have enough talent to warrant a move.

And Sesko has the potential to be a superstar. Talent scout Jacek Kulig has even gone as far as to declare him as “the new Haaland”, for his strength, clinical power and tall, rangy figure are reminiscent of the Manchester City goal machine.

While 13 goals from 33 Bundesliga games last season isn’t a haul to set the world on fire, the £94k-per-week talent only missed ten big chances, notching five assists too.

And Kulig also noted that Sesko’s blistering running power makes him “one of the fastest players on the planet”.

Ranked among the top 11% of strikers across Europe’s top five leagues last season for successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref, Sesko is also established as a ball-carrying talent. He has pace, to be sure, but manages that high-speed running well when on the ball, which is a noteworthy attribute indeed for someone leading the line.

The 6 foot 4 striker is truly shaping into one of the most dangerous forwards in the game. He’s not the finished product but instead the raw and untapped potential of someone who could lead the line for an ambitious Man United team over the coming years, combining with the likes of Mbeumo and Cunha to create an iconic strike-force built for illustrious success.

Take, for example, Mbeumo in his current form, and contrast that with the winger’s first tentative steps into the Premier League theatre. His growth, as you might imagine, has been impressive.

Bryan Mbeumo’s First and Latest Prem Seasons

Stats (* per game)

21/22

24/25

Matches (starts)

35 (34)

38 (38)

Goals

4

20

Assists

7

7

Shots (on target)*

2.2 (0.6)

2.2 (1.1)

Big chances missed

9

9

Pass completion

69%

74%

Big chances created

4

17

Key passes*

1.0

1.8

Dribbles*

1.1

1.4

Tackles + interceptions*

1.1

1.7

Duels won*

3.8

4.7

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see, Mbeumo has grown into his skin, these past years working hard to become more accurate and more engaged, more creative too. So it is clear. So it could be for Sesko, who already has the ingredients to become a high-level goalscorer for Man United.

The point of this is that Sesko isn’t in his final form. This tall and intelligent and instinctive striker, who moves with confidence and strikes true, would only develop in a United team on the up, flanked by Cunha and Mbeumo.

And if those forwards, already settled into the English game, as we have discussed, help him find his feet in those early stages, Sesko could truly rise above and become a world-class marksman for Amorim’s project.

The Portuguese tactician, after all, demonstrated his aptitude with a talented forward in Gyokeres at Sporting Lisbon, turning the Sweden star into a world-beater.

Without question, signing Sesko could be a deal that is looked back on as a game-changer in the years to come.

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Glasgow Rangers navigated an error-laden first-half performance to secure a brilliant 2-0 victory over Panathinaikos in the first leg of their second round Champions League qualifier.

Jack Butland had to be called into action to make a series of fine stops to keep a clean sheet in the opening 45 minutes, before goals from Findlay Curtis and Djedi Gassama sealed the win in the second half.

Despite the nervy moments defensively that were littered throughout the 90 minutes, there were some impressive individual performances for Russell Martin’s side, as Curtis grasped his opportunity with both hands.

Findlay Curtis' performance in numbers

The academy graduate was given the nod to start on the left flank, with Gassama unfit to start and Thelo Aasgaard out injured, and stepped up to the plate with a fantastic showing.

It was an all-action and forward-thinking display from the 18-year-old starlet, who ended the game with four tackles and one interception made, which shows the hard work that he put in defensively.

As you can see in the clip above, Curtis also opened the scoring with a stunning goal, brilliantly taking the ball inside on the run before bending a shot, via a slight deflection, into the bottom corner from distance.

The teenage whiz attempted three dribbles and had two shots on goal, one of which was his goal, and this shows that he was constantly probing and looking to put the Gers on the front foot in the match, which the supporters at Ibrox were loving.

Performance in Numbers

Want data and stats? Football FanCast’s Performance in Numbers series provides you with the latest match analysis from across Europe.

Whilst Curtis shone on one wing, Kieran Dowell started on the opposite flank and was only able to show why the Gers must replace him with a new forward before the end of the window.

Why Rangers must replace Dowell

The left-footed flop has only produced two goals and two assists in 33 appearances for Rangers as an attacking midfielder or wide player, and was sent out on loan to Birmingham City in January because of his disappointing performances.

However, Martin has seemingly seen something in him because he selected Dowell to start on the right wing against Panathinaikos, but it was not a decision that was backed up by the performance.

Minutes played

75

Shots on target

0

Big chances missed

1

Key passes

0

Big chances created

0

Duels won

5/7

As you can see in the table above, the former Norwich man, who was outshone by Curtis, did put himself about to win duels but he was ineffective at the top end of the pitch, once again in a Rangers shirt.

Dowell, who was described as “non-existent” in the first half by the Heart & Hand Podcast, does not impose himself on matches in the final third, hence his lack of goal contributions throughout his Gers career, and that was the case against Panathinaikos, notably taking fewer touches (29) than Butland (31),.

Rangers have lost Vaclav Cerny, who was on loan from Wolfsburg last season, and the 12 goals and four assists that he provided in the Scottish Premiership from a right wing position.

This means that the Light Blues need to find another right-sided attacker who can score and create goals at an impressive rate, and Dowell’s performance on Tuesday, coupled with the rest of his career at Ibrox to date, suggests that he does not fit the bill.

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Therefore, Rangers should be looking to replace the English flop with a new right winger, who can contribute in the final third on a regular basis, to start week-in-week-out for Martin this season, before the summer transfer window slams shut.

Last week was very much Alexander Isak vs Hugo Ekitike. Liverpool flexed their muscles by telling Newcastle they were ready to put a £120m offer on the table for the Swede.

The Toon were steadfast, however, once again reiterating that the centre forward isn’t for sale this summer.

Consequently, the Reds raided Eintracht Frankfurt and stole Ekitike from under Newcastle’s noses. Eddie Howe’s men had made their own bid for the Frenchman but had to sit back and watch their Premier League rivals prise him away instead.

Having already signed Florian Wirtz for a club-record £116m, they’ve splashed out a further £79m on Ekitike. But, Liverpool’s efforts to improve the forward line might not be done there.

Does anyone fancy Rodrygo?

Liverpool could sign big-money Rodrygo alternative

While a deal for Ekitike is set to be formally announced in the not-too-distant future, rumours have surfaced suggesting Real Madrid winger, Rodrygo, is also on their radar.

The Brazilian has been the subject of interest from Arsenal this summer but reports last week suggested that the Reds have leapfrogged their title rivals in the race for the winger.

Liverpool have allegedly held their own talks to sign Rodrygo but whether a move is formalised remains to be seen.

Signing a winger is likely to depend on the future of Luis Diaz. Bayern Munich want to sign him but there is a difference in valuation right now.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

If that move does come to fruition, then perhaps Anthony Gordon might come on the radar again. The Anfield outfit have been linked with the Newcastle star religiously, and he’s very keen on the move.

That’s according to journalist Graeme Bailey. Speaking to TBR Football, he played up the chances of Gordon heading to Merseyside in the future.

“If Diaz goes, I wouldn’t rule Gordon out. I think if Diaz — the left-sided player — goes, Liverpool will bring someone in. Obviously, we know they’ve talked to Rodrygo, but Gordon is very much in that conversation for them.”

Bailey continued: “Gordon would walk to Liverpool — it’s his hometown club. He loves them. He wants to play for them. I think it’s inevitable Gordon will join Liverpool at some point — whether it’s this summer, next, or the year after. But I think he will end up at Anfield at some point.”

How Gordon compares to Rodrygo

It must be said that signing Rodrygo this summer, particularly when Arsenal are also interested, would be a phenomenal capture.

This is a player who scored as many as 19 goals in the 2022/23 campaign. He’s shone for Madrid and it’s only as a consequence of Kylian Mbappe and Vini Jr that he’s suffering from a lack of game time.

That’s certainly nothing to be ashamed of. That said, while Rodrygo has put in some fine performances on the continent, he’s not accustomed to life in English football and would no doubt take time to get up to speed. With another raw prospect in the form of Ekitike arriving, it could well be argued that Liverpool will need someone more battle-ready if Diaz leaves.

Well, in Gordon, they’d certainly find their plug-and-play option. The England international has been valued as highly as £100m and has showcased why over the last two campaigns in particular, scoring 21 goals and registering 23 assists.

Gordon is very much a dual threat, possessing elite ball carrying and combining that with the ability to score goals and create.

Rodrygo does feel like a superstar. He plays for Real, after all. Yet, Gordon is a mentality monster. He wants to win at all costs and the fact he actually supports Liverpool will no doubt help him succeed at Anfield if a move happens.

Goals

0.29

0.33

Assists

0.25

0.21

Touches

45

56

Key passes

1.82

1.98

Progressive passes

3.36

4.13

Successful take-ons

1.55

2.28

Ball recoveries

3.75

2.76

Tackles

1.47

0.77

Analysing the core metrics above, one thing is clear and that’s Rodrygo looks more explosive.

Yet, an element of context must be applied. The Brazil international has been playing for a more ball-dominant team and in amassing 11 more touches per 90 minutes, it’s understandable why the data is skewed in his favour.

Yet, when it comes to things like progressive passes and key passes, there really isn’t much of a difference between the two.

Interestingly, Gordon will offer you a lot more off the ball. He makes an extra ball recovery per 90 and aids his team’s cause with more tackles. His work rate is exemplary.

While both players could cost over £80m, perhaps it would be wiser to invest the money in a local lad who knows the division inside out.

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V Chamundeswarnath nominated by Indian Cricketers Association as player representative on IPL governing council

PTI29-Sep-2024

Who will take Jay Shah’s place at the BCCI when he moves to the ICC?•ICC/Getty Images

Members present at the BCCI’s 93rd Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Bengaluru on Sunday requested incumbent secretary Jay Shah to speed up the process of finding his successor to make the transition as smooth as possible. Shah is expected to step down from his post in the last week of November to take over as chairman of the ICC for a three-year period from December 1.While selecting the new secretary was not on the AGM agenda, it has been learnt that the attendees discussed the succession plan among themselves.”It was a normal request to keep all due processes in place at the earliest as [then] there will be clarity for us,” a state association representative who attended the AGM told PTI.As things stand, Rohan Jaitley, president of Delhi and District Cricket Association, BCCI treasurer Ashish Shelar, joint-secretary Devajit Saikia and Gujarat Cricket Association secretary Anil Patel are in the mix to succeed Shah.The primary focal point of the AGM was the nomination of India’s two representatives to attend ICC meetings. Currently Shah is the BCCI’s representative on the ICC Board and IPL chairman Arun Dhumal has the same role in the Chief Executives’ Committee.The AGM entrusted the general body members with recommending two names for the posts at the earliest.Arun Dhumal and Avishek Dalmiya were also elected to the IPL Governing Council (GC) as general body representatives, with the former set to continue as the league’s chairman till at least IPL 2025.Former Andhra cricketer V Chamundeswarnath was nominated by the Indian Cricketers Association (ICA) as a player representative and was inducted into the IPL GC.The AGM also ratified the annual budget for the 2024-25 season, and the members unanimously resolved to maintain BCCI’s legal status as a society, an item which was originally not on the agenda of the meeting. “The members further resolved that the tournaments of the BCCI, including the IPL, shall not be converted into a company,” a BCCI statement said.

Everton are in the infancy of their summer transfer window plans but could be about to step things up a notch after making an approach for a Club World Cup star, according to reports.

Everton close in on Thierno Barry and announce new contract

David Moyes and his side have been slow off the mark this summer as they take time to assess where to strengthen before advancing, though supporters will be relieved to hear the Toffees are closing in on a deal to sign Villarreal striker Thierno Barry.

Set to arrive for around £30 million, he could kickstart a period of significant change for Everton as they finally begin to experience life at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Michael Keane has also put pen to paper on a one-year extension on Merseyside and will help shore up Moyes’ backline after rejecting interest from elsewhere to stay at the club.

Upon renewing his terms, the 32-year-old stated: “I love Everton and have been massively proud to play for this club since the day I joined so I’m delighted to extend my stay here. The manager wants a competitive squad and I still feel I have a lot to give to Everton.

“We’ve been through a difficult few years but it’s an exciting time ahead for us as players and our brilliant fans. We’ve got a world-class new stadium to play in, and our form under the manager last season shows there’s a lot of reasons to be positive. I’m looking forward to being part of it.”

Everton’s first five Premier League matches
Leeds United (A)	Elland Road
Brighton & Hove Albion (H)	Hill Dickinson Stadium
Wolverhampton Wanderers (A)	Molineux
Aston Villa (H)	Hill Dickinson Stadium
Liverpool (A)	Anfield

While some things stay the same, Everton’s latest target could open up the possibility of a change in the guard involving a key position if reports are to be believed.

Everton rival Man Utd for Botafogo goalkeeper John Victor

According to Globo, Everton have made an approach to sign Botafogo goalkeeper John Victor to compete with Jordan Pickford for a starting slot after losing Asmir Begovic and Joao Virginia this summer.

Manchester United are also keen on his services, and both clubs have moved to sound out his camp over a potential swoop amid recent reports he may be available for only £6 million.

Everton hold advanced talks to sign "superb" free agent in bargain deal

The Toffees have stepped things up…

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Tom Cunningham

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Labelled a “warrior” by Botafogo counterpart Philipe Sampaio, John has kept ten clean sheets in 29 appearances this campaign and was instrumental in Botafogo’s run to the last 16 stage of the Club World Cup.

Naturally, his displays have created a wealth of interest in his services, though it remains to be seen whether he would be willing to battle it out with club icon Pickford for the number one jersey under Moyes.

Either way, Everton are beginning to motor in their hunt for signings, and it feels like the Friedkin Group’s reign in charge could be about to take off.

There have been moments, flashes, when Darwin Nunez has looked like the player Liverpool thought they were investing in three years ago, with the Anfield side’s then club-record capture memorably getting off the mark on debut in the Community Shield.

Who can forget the Uruguayan’s breathtaking brace as the ten-man Reds romped past Newcastle United at St James’ Park in August 2023, with Nunez briefly resembling the player who had hit 48 goals in just 85 games for former club Benfica.

Unfortunately for all concerned, such statement displays have been few and far between to date, with the chaotic nature of the profligate striker looking distinctly at odds with the cool and composed style of Arne Slot’s football.

That chasm resulted in Nunez scoring just seven times in all competitions in 2024/25, having notably been restricted to just eight Premier League starts. An exit – most likely to Serie A champions Napoli – now appears an inevitability ahead of next term.

With Luis Diaz earning admiring glances from those at Barcelona, the need for a new figure to lead the line has only been heightened. Enter, a high-profile target…

Liverpool plotting bid for high profile forward

£187m has already been spent on acquiring Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez, although with funds set to be raked in amid the potential sales of Nunez and Diaz – alongside Jarell Quansah’s £35m exit – there could still be further activity for Slot and co over the coming weeks.

The Merseysiders have notably been linked with a move for Eintracht Frankfurt starlet, Hugo Ekitike, with the 23-year-old believed to have emerged as a top target, amid his ability to feature off the left or in a central role.

That versatility is also a feature of Real Madrid star Rodrygo’s game, with reports in Spain suggesting that Liverpool are among a trio of Premier League clubs who are keen on signing the highly-rated Brazilian.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

The suggestion is that, along with Manchester City and Arsenal, the Anfield side are in the mix for the 24-year-old’s signature, with the report outlining that they have already been ‘informed’ of the player’s situation.

Not only has there seemingly been contact made, but the piece also outlines that Liverpool are ready and willing to submit an offer for the former Santos starlet, with prior reports indicating that he could command a fee of around £75m.

With The Athletic noting that Rodrygo could be made available by the LaLiga giants this summer, having played a bit-part role for Xabi Alonso at the Club World Cup, now could be the perfect time for Slot to pounce.

Why Liverpool need to sign Rodrygo

Having seen Trent Alexander-Arnold join the Spanish outfit for a fee of around £10m earlier this summer, the Reds could more than get their own back by prising the unsettled Rodrygo from the Bernabeu.

At just 24, the Brazil international offers that perfect blend of youth and experience, having already spent six seasons in Madrid, following his £38m arrival back in the summer of 2019.

Such a deal could evoke memories of the capture of a certain Fernando Torres from the Spanish capital back in 2007, with the prolific striker making the switch at the age of 23, having proven himself for Atletico Madrid.

Like Rodrygo – who has scored 68 goals in 270 games for Los Blancos – Torres was an undoubted star in LaLiga, with that first spell at Atleti seeing him reach double figures for league goals in each of his first five seasons.

Such red-hot form was more than replicated at Anfield, with ‘El Nino’ ultimately dazzling alongside Steven Gerrard and co, having terrorised defences up and down the country over the next four years.

A return of 81 goals in 142 games is certainly nothing to be sniffed at, certainly not when compared to Nunez’s return of just 40 goals in 143 games thus far, having been hailed as “among the best” in the division by then-boss Rafa Benitez.

Similar praise has been dished out by ex-Madrid coach, Carlo Ancelotti, in relation to Rodrygo, with the iconic Italian naming his young winger as one of the “best players in the world”, alongside the likes of Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Jr and Kylian Mbappe.

2024/25

30

12

2023/24

34

15

2022/23

34

18

2021/22

33

8

2020/21

22

7

2019/20

19

2

While Rodrygo’s star has been dimmed by that trio, it is hard to deny his quality, with the fleet-footed marksman already scoring 25 times in just 65 Champions League appearances for his current side. For comparison, Torres scored 20 times in 79 career outings in Europe’s elite competition.

Although not necessarily a centre-forward by trade, the £75m man could emulate Diaz in providing a more fluid and mobile option through the middle, with Ancelotti previously suggesting in the past that number nine could be best suited to him, as his “strengths are his movement”.

Having previously seen Torres make a smooth transition to live in England, after leaving Madrid behind, hopefully Rodrygo can follow suit this summer.

He's as exciting as Wirtz: Liverpool in contact to sign a £75m "superstar"

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New Zealand head coach Gary Stead has said that being denied the opportunity to get some game-time after a six-month gap in Test cricket is the “most disappointing part” after their one-off Test against Afghanistan was called off without a ball bowled.New Zealand had this match to familiarise themselves with the subcontinent conditions, with the series against Sri Lanka and India coming up. But persistent rain and outfield issues in Greater Noida reduced the first-ever Test between the two teams to a no-show.”The most disappointing part for us is that we lost the opportunity to be match-hardened and match-ready when we go into our Test match [against Sri Lanka] next week,” Stead said at the post-match press conference. “The guys are really disappointed. It was an opportunity to play Afghanistan. It doesn’t come around that often.Related

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“They have some unique bowlers – it’s always good to get your head around how you face them. The way they play is a little bit different to other countries. It’s always learning what you can do when you get in those match situations.”The one-off Test was not part of the World Test Championship. However, Stead said the team was left “frustrated”, as the format is “very, very dear to the team’s hearts”.”Even though it was fine for those two days, there were thunderstorms the nights before and the ground was just too soft and the umpires deemed that unfit to play on,” he said. “So that is sort of out of the players’ hands in a way as well.”But we were frustrated. We have come here to play cricket and play a Test match and as Jonathan [Trott, Afghanistan head coach] said, Test cricket, certainly to our group of players that is here, that’s very, very dear to their hearts and every Test you get to play in is a big one.”So regardless of whether it has World Test Championship points or not, that opportunity to get out there for five days, it looked a great surface. The whole block looked fantastic, so it would have been a great match of Test cricket.”New Zealand are not slated to play another Test against Afghanistan in the current Future Tours Programme cycle. Stead welcomed the prospect of playing more Tests against Afghanistan, heaping praise on their recent achievements in white-ball cricket, including a win against New Zealand in the group stage of the 2024 T20 World Cup.Persistent rain and outfield issues in Greater Noida led to the one-off Test being called off•AFP/Getty Images

“I don’t make the decisions around the Future Tours Programme and big tours,” Stead said. “But I said it right from the start of coming here, Afghanistan have knocked just about every top team in the world over now. So they’re certainly a force and becoming more and more of a force in world cricket. That’s something for the Afghanistan and New Zealand boards to get their heads around.”It was our first Test match against Afghanistan and we were really excited about that. They’ve been great competitors of ours over the last few World Cups. We’ve had some great games of cricket.”Stead said New Zealand were “desperate” to make the World Test Championship final. Five of their remaining eight Tests in the cycle will be in Asia, but he is confident of the side adapting to the conditions.”The World Test Championship is alive and well, and we’re currently in third place, and we want to make the finals again,” he said. “We’ve been there once in the past, and we are desperate to get there again. So every test match we play will be an important one.”The conditions that we face in Galle will be, I’m sure, different to Bangalore, Pune and Mumbai when we come back here again. So it’s still about adapting to the different surfaces where I’m learning from those. But also banking the knowledge you have created in the past even though it’s been a couple of [sessions of] trainings out there, we’d still bank on what we’ve learnt on those sort of pitches.”

“I thought I’m able to play, I’m able to bowl, I’m able to stay in the field till the end, why not, I should go for it,” Rashid said after match-winning five-for

ESPNcricinfo staff21-Sep-2024Rashid Khan was struggling with his hamstring, but he knew his contribution would “be the key” if his team were to pull off a historic series win against South Africa. So, he thought, if he could somehow “stay in the field till the end, why not, I should go for it”. Go for it he did, and finished with figures of 9-1-19-5 to spin out South Africa and hand Afghanistan their first series win against a team ranked in the top five of the ICC rankings.”I got a hamstring [injury], I had it a month before as well, quite unlucky but I tried my best to stay on the ground till the end, tried my best to do for the team as much as I can,” Rashid said after the whopping 177-run win was sealed in Sharjah. “Big opportunity for us as a team you know, to win the series against a big team and that’s what I had in my mind: my contribution will be the key so I have to go and stay till the end.”Rashid has struggled with injuries quite a bit of late. Hamstring trouble had ruled him out of the final week of the Hundred in August, before he returned home to play Afghanistan’s domestic T20s, the Shpageeza Cricket League, and picked up a back niggle. He went on to miss the one-off – washed out – Test against New Zealand. In fact, this ODI series is his first cricket in either of the two longer formats since the 2023 ODI World Cup in India in November last year. After that World Cup, Rashid had undergone surgery on his back, and was sidelined altogether for four months after that.Related

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On Friday, Rashid’s 26th birthday, he was batting when his hamstring issues resurfaced. Coming out in the 47th over, he ran a two first ball, and immediately needed the attention of the physio. He continued to bat though, finishing six not out off 12. Would he come back out to bowl, though?”We had a big opportunity to win a series against South Africa and I think the love for this game is just pushing you to play, doesn’t matter how [hard] it is and I thought I’m able to play, I’m able to bowl, I’m able to stay in the field till the end, why not, I should go for it,” Rashid said. “Good job done by the physio as well, to get me ready and deliver for the team.”Afghanistan had one more injury concern on the night, with half-centurion Rahmat Shah going off the field in the 21st over with what seemed like cramps at the time. That, it turned out, was hamstring trouble too. Captain Hashmatullah Shahidi was hopeful it is not too serious though.”I talked with him, he’s good , maybe he will play the next game,” Shahidi said at the post-match presentation. “But before that also I think he was not feeling good, hamstring happened to him, hopefully he will be okay and play the other game.”Afghanistan have sealed the series 2-0, but have a third game to play, also in Sharjah, on Sunday. After that, they have a bit of a break, with – as things stand – their next scheduled cricket being an all-format tour of Zimbabwe in December-January.

قاد المصري محمد صلاح فريقه ليفربول لفوز مهم على أتلتيكو مدريد بثلاثة أهداف لهدفين خلال المواجهة التي جمعت الفريقين بمرحلة الدوري في دوري أبطال أوروبا.

ودخل آرني سلوت مدرب ليفربول لقاء الجولة الأولى في دوري أبطال أوروبا بتشكيل مكون من: أليسون، فريمبونج، كوناتي، فان دايك، روبرتسون، سوبوسلاي، جرافينبرخ، صلاح، فيرتز، كودي جاكبو، إيزاك.

ودخل دييجو سيميوني مدرب أتلتيكو مدريد اللقاء بتشكيل مكون من: أوبلاك، جالان، لينجلت، لي نورماند، يورينتي، جونزاليس، جالاجر، باريوس، سيميوني، راسبادوري، جريزمان.

أقرأ أيضاً.. بي بي سي: محمد صلاح ظهر أمام أتلتيكو مدريد بمستوى استثنائي وسجل هدفًا رائعًا

وسجل ليفربول هدفين متتاليين في ثلاث دقائق عن طريق روبرتسون ومحمد صلاح، بينما سجل ماركوس يورينتي هدفي أتلتيكو مدريد، قبل أن يخطف فان دايك هدف الفوز للريدز بعد رأسية رائعة من متابعة ركلة ركنية مميزة.

وبهذا الفوز يصل ليفربول للفوز الخامس على التوالي بعد أن بدأ حملة الدفاع عن لقب الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز بأربع انتصارات متتالية.

وبحسب شبكة “هوسكورد” العالمية وبعد أداء صلاح الرائع في مباراة اليوم، فقد حصل النجم المصري على تقييم 8.4 وهو أعلى تقييم في اللقاء.

وسدد محمد صلاح 6 تسديدات منهم 3 على المرمى وقام بـ 3 تمريرات أساسية وجاءت دقة تمريراته بنسبة 84.2% ولمس الكرة 56 مرة وسجل هدفا وصنع آخر. ملخص لمسات محمد صلاح في مباراة ليفربول وأتلتيكو مدريد